Frustrated FHM3 Player Here; Is FHM4 Worth It?

[Catch22]

I put 274 hours into FHM3 before I finally had it with the bugs (more on that in a minute). I think there's a lot of promise, but the game is essentially still a beta right now (after how many years?), and the tactics system is a very questionable design decision. My question for those of you that bought FHM4: is it worth it? Did they clean up the bugs, or is it just a roster update and a couple features I won't care about?

My main issues with FHM3:
1. I worked tirelessly to build up my whole protected list, only to have my best prospect hit free agency unexpectedly. Even though he'd been in the NHL for two seasons, his Canadian Junior team renewed his contract for $3000 (!), which prevented him from being listed under Possible FAs. It's happened to two more players this season, and I don't even have the option to renew them, which is the final straw.
2. The tactics system is just too ham-handed. Why does my third line have to have a grinder? Why are the tactic values assigned by line number and not by time allotted? Why can't I set how aggressively I want them to implement a given system? How are the values calculated for Playmaker vs. Sniper, etc.?
3. Why can't views remember their state when you navigate back to them?
4. Why can't I play as a commissioner in PTG mode (so I can fix issues like #1 above)?
5. Why can't I sim more than one day at a time in PTG?
6. Why doesn't my coach progress in sandbox mode like he did in FHM2? Or why don't I have the option to tell the engine to ignore coach effects?
7. Why is the invisible chippy/clean/sportsmanlike characteristic separate from aggressiveness or temperament? Why do we need both?
8. Why can't I choose who my bench coach is?
9. Why can't I set my scouts assignments to Indefinite instead of 16 weeks?
10. Why can't I choose a head scout? Why doesn't the Change Scout button work ever?
11. Why can't I assign a scout to monitor the players I've drafted but not yet signed without burning the shortlist on that?
12. Why does the AI trade for half-star players when there are 2.5 star free agents who have to sign entry-level deals?
13. Why would the AI just not resign a 4-star prospect they drafted?
14. Why can't I just watch my team's games without being obligated to manage the in-game tactics (which I don't want anything to do with anyway)?
15. Why can't I tell my minor league affiliates what position I want my prospects to play?
16. Why do people let developers design UIs?

90% of FHM3 is great. Unfortunately, the other 10% is sneaky game-breaking and makes the 90% moot. Is FHM4 a different story?

[eldur00]

Without going 1 by 1, I can tell you it's probably best you pass on FHM4 as some of those "unadvertised features" are still present in the game.

[Kinsella19]

Originally Posted by Catch22

I put 274 hours into FHM3 before I finally had it with the bugs (more on that in a minute). I think there's a lot of promise, but the game is essentially still a beta right now (after how many years?), and the tactics system is a very questionable design decision. My question for those of you that bought FHM4: is it worth it? Did they clean up the bugs, or is it just a roster update and a couple features I won't care about?

My main issues with FHM3:
1. I worked tirelessly to build up my whole protected list, only to have my best prospect hit free agency unexpectedly. Even though he'd been in the NHL for two seasons, his Canadian Junior team renewed his contract for $3000 (!), which prevented him from being listed under Possible FAs. It's happened to two more players this season, and I don't even have the option to renew them, which is the final straw.
2. The tactics system is just too ham-handed. Why does my third line have to have a grinder? Why are the tactic values assigned by line number and not by time allotted? Why can't I set how aggressively I want them to implement a given system? How are the values calculated for Playmaker vs. Sniper, etc.?
3. Why can't views remember their state when you navigate back to them?
4. Why can't I play as a commissioner in PTG mode (so I can fix issues like #1 above)?
5. Why can't I sim more than one day at a time in PTG?
6. Why doesn't my coach progress in sandbox mode like he did in FHM2? Or why don't I have the option to tell the engine to ignore coach effects?
7. Why is the invisible chippy/clean/sportsmanlike characteristic separate from aggressiveness or temperament? Why do we need both?
8. Why can't I choose who my bench coach is?
9. Why can't I set my scouts assignments to Indefinite instead of 16 weeks?
10. Why can't I choose a head scout? Why doesn't the Change Scout button work ever?
11. Why can't I assign a scout to monitor the players I've drafted but not yet signed without burning the shortlist on that?
12. Why does the AI trade for half-star players when there are 2.5 star free agents who have to sign entry-level deals?
13. Why would the AI just not resign a 4-star prospect they drafted?
14. Why can't I just watch my team's games without being obligated to manage the in-game tactics (which I don't want anything to do with anyway)?
15. Why can't I tell my minor league affiliates what position I want my prospects to play?
16. Why do people let developers design UIs?

90% of FHM3 is great. Unfortunately, the other 10% is sneaky game-breaking and makes the 90% moot. Is FHM4 a different story?

I can try to tell you what's fixed in FHM4 of what you mentioned.
1. You can go commish mode in PTG now so that won't be a problem.
2. The tactics system is still the same.
3. I don't know exactly what you mean by this
4. See the first bullet point
5. You can do this in FHM4 now
6. Still doesn't happen
7. Still the same
8. You can
9. You can set scout assignments to permanent now
10. Change scout button works at least now
11. I think you can do that now
12. No idea, still happens
13. I never had this problem
14. You always could
15. You can, can also tell them to play "best prospects" now over aging vets
16. ?

[Catch22]

Thanks, Ray (assuming your nick is a FoD reference; good choice). This was very helpful.

Regarding #3: say you visit the Roster screen, filter to only show defensemen, and then choose the advanced stats view. Then you go to the Strategies screen to make changes based on what you just saw and, when finished there, hit the back button. The filter (and probably the view) have reset to some seemingly random version of the Roster screen. Same is true for Drafting and Free Agent Center.

Originally Posted by Kinsella19

I can try to tell you what's fixed in FHM4 of what you mentioned.
1. You can go commish mode in PTG now so that won't be a problem.
2. The tactics system is still the same.
3. I don't know exactly what you mean by this
4. See the first bullet point
5. You can do this in FHM4 now
6. Still doesn't happen
7. Still the same
8. You can
9. You can set scout assignments to permanent now
10. Change scout button works at least now
11. I think you can do that now
12. No idea, still happens
13. I never had this problem
14. You always could
15. You can, can also tell them to play "best prospects" now over aging vets
16. ?

[micpringle]

I’d recommend staying clear for now—not only are some of the issues you mention still present but FHM4 has introduced a whole host of new issues, the most frustrating being the AI choosing to play top players on the 3rd and 4th lines, or out of position (Malkin on LW!?) if you ask it to set the lines. This one has been in since the original release and is *still* broken after numerous updates.

[Savoie45]

I personally like the game and would recommend it, but I'm new to the series. No it's not perfect, but the support is there and the foundation is solid. As long as the devs continue to support the game with updates and respond to community concerns and issues, I'll continue to play the game.

[micpringle]

Don’t get me wrong, I like the game and I’m playing myself. My advice to stay clear for the time being was based on the OPs reasons for no longer playing FHM3 and the fact that a lot of his issues are still present in FHM4, plus some new equally as frustrating ones.

[redtiger7]

The changing views is a bit hit and miss now. But yeah, FHM 4 is still a $40 beta